Chapter Thirteen: Graduation

It was the last day of class before they received two weeks off. Yuina yearned for it. Sensei seemed to be more critical of her efforts the past few months and she strives to meet his standards. Maybe it was because she gave her full attention in class. Maybe it was because she was a Hatake. Hatake was a clan but they had decentralized over the years and integrated into Konoha rather than insist of having their own district and therefore held less power as they weren't a unified body. Maybe she was doing worse than she thought. She didn't exactly have a mirror or video to see and correct herself.

Once. Just once, maybe she could ask her classmates. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. It would allow others see her uncertainty. It was a trait that started in her last life, where at times it could feel like everyone was waiting for others to make a mistake. This world then added fear into the equation because using people's weaknesses against them was a common and encouraged practice.

Yuina threw her kunai towards the targets once more before she turned to Ibiki and Susumu. "Morino-san, Aburame-san, do you think my form is alright?" She could at least rely on those two to give a sensible reply.

They stared silently at her before looking turning their heads to look at each other.

"Nevermind." If that was their reaction to the question she didn't want to know the answer.

Sato-sensei watched the interaction with dread then looked up at the sky. He clapped his hands a few times as he said, "Let's clean up and go back to the classroom."

"I wonder if he's passed yet," said Nao as she pulled out several weapons from the targets.

"Someone you know taking their test today too?" asked Miruku as he picked up weapons from the ground and placed them in the small wooden crate.

Nao nodded. "My brother."

"I'm sure he'll do fine. If anyone should worry, it should be my cousin. Uncle's been complaining about how much he's been slacking. He think's he's invincible just because he can take over someone's mind."

"How lucky," Jun added. "I bet you two get to hear all sorts of stories from your families."

"Sometimes? There's things they can't talk about and I think they rather talk about other things," answered Miruku.

"How boring," added Kichiro. "When I graduate I'll be bragging about all my adventures to you guys."

"Boys," Kurenai stepped to stand beside Yuina. "Always looking for competition."

"I like it." Mayumi joined grinning. "Aim big and all."

"We still have several years before we have to think about that." When the time came it would happen. Unlike childhood dreams, they were guaranteed to get there someday. Yuina picked up one of the crates and walked towards sensei.

"It's weird for Yuina to say that," Mayumi said to Kurenai. "She always aims big."

Kurenai nodded. "I don't think I've ever seen Yuina-chan not put her all into something. Anyway, what do you plan to do with our upcoming break?"

Everyone returned to the classroom to have their last lesson of the day. She was about to find a seat when sensei called her name. "Yes sensei."

Sato looked down at the girl. Until the last moment he tried to come up with any reason aside from age to hold her back at least one more year.

"Could you go with Yoriko-sensei?" He looked over towards the woman standing in the hallway.

Why? The questioned echoed through her head. Follow orders had been drilled in her head enough, so she agreed and walked towards the woman without question.

Yuina stayed alert as they walked through the building. Yoriko-sensei hadn't explained anything. She only offered a quick 'follow me' before walking through sections of the building she had never been with familiarity.

They walk into a wide-open room where only a man stood.

"Took you long enough, Yoriko."

"Blame Sato."

"I'm Masato. You must be Yuina."

"Nice to meet you." No one had yet to tell her why she was there.

They asked her to perform a jutsu one by one.

Was this an intervention? Had her fears been correct? She had three years of speech therapy in her last life despite it sounding all the same to her. Was this a repeat of that?

Yoriko-sensei sighed and looked to Masato who shrugged. He said, "It's already been approved."

What has been approved?

"Congratulations on becoming a genin." Sorry, what? "Here's a form that needs to be completed by the start of next week and is to be handed in when you go get your identification photo taken. New graduates will then come here on the last day of the month for team assignments." Yuina half listened as her brain tried to process.

None of this made sense. She was supposed to have another four years. This had to be a mistake. She tried to think back on the last year. It couldn't be that easy. Clans would constantly fight to show off their members if it were.

People just didn't want attention on themselves. Asuma proved that, but he was also the Hokage's son. What about the rest of the class? Rin mentioned her reading and training on medical ninjutsu. Others like Aburame and Yamanaka on occasion mentioned their training at home.

The academy was supposed to be a relatively calm neutral ground. Wait, was that true or had she just assumed.

Think. THINK!

Kakashi was able to do everything she could. She had been modelling her life largely off him. He was supposed to be her benchmark about this world's expectations of growth and behaviour. Sakumo never commented otherwise! She didn't really know how to emulate a child so she just existed and Sakumo never mentioned that she was odd or out of place.

She grabbed the forehead protector with the village's insignia engraved on it and sheet of paper that was mentioned offered to her, but she could barely feel the things she was holding. Sounds were hallowed. Her eyes perceived a fraction of what was before her, and she felt distant. It was like watching a puppet of herself as she walked back to class.

Was she supposed to go back to class? There would only be ten minutes or so left.

She entered the room and found a seat even as eyes gazed at her interruption.

Hoshi, who she sat next to, among some others clearly saw the forehead protector because they whispered among themselves even as Sensei continued to teach.

The class was let free and the mayhem begun.

She was bombarded with questions. Only some she responded too in an automated way. It still didn't feel real. She didn't want it to be real.

Who would let a five-year-old become an official mercenary? She thought Konoha moved past that.

Asuma paled. Was this his doing? Did his plan work too well? He'd never heard of anyone graduating by the end of their first year. Was all his work for nothing? Would more attention go back to him next year? Others congratulated Yuina, but he couldn't find the words to do the same.

"Don't be that way A-su-ma." Mayumi elbowed him. He didn't really talk to her without Kurenai around. He looked over to see her blushing looking over at Mayumi. "This is all because of her hard work. You talk about it all the time. Just because you'll miss her doesn't mean you have to be grumpy. We have to let her go so she can do even more!"

"Still, it's really early." Kurenai backed him up.

Yuina walked out of the class and headed towards the front gate. People still followed behind praising and asking her more questions.

They got outside to see another crowd with Kakashi at the centre.

She would have realized it sooner if she hadn't been lost in her thoughts, but there was no way she graduated and he didn't. He tried to look aloof, but she could see his pride as he already put on the forehead protector.

Was she supposed to congratulate him for something he took pride in when she thought this would doom them?

Damn it, she has a soft spot for him even now.

Maybe they could end up like Dai?

No, Kakashi would never agree to that.

Life just got harder when she thought it was already on hard mode.

Any guesses to who she will be stuck with as a teacher?